Impression mechanism



Oct.f28, 1941.

,Il L. ELDER IMPRESSION MEGHANISM v Filed June 4, 1938 5 Sheets--Sheei'I l SQ. NQ

:Snventor Irvil L. Elder His Gttorneg oct. 2s, 1941. .L L, ELER 2,260,970

IMPRESSION lmacHANI'sM Win11 l Vhwentor Irvin L. Elder 8l um' Hin (Ittorneg l'. L.. ELDER 2,260,970 IMPRESSION MECHANISM Filed June 4, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 28, 1941.

Irvin L. Elder His (Ittorneg the patents to B.

Patented Oct. 28, 1941 s PATENT OFFICE IMPREssIoN MECHANISM Irvin L. Elder, Chicago, jIll., assignorvto tional Cash Register CompanyyDayton,

`The Na- Ohio,

a corporation of Marylandy Application June 4, 193s, serial No. 211,838' Claims. `(C1. 10i- 212) y VThis invention relates to cash registers and accounting machines, and more particularly to the printing mechanisms thereof The invention is herein shown embodied in a machine of the type illustrated and described in M. Shipley Nos. 1,747,397 and 1,761,542, dated February 18, 1930, and June 3, 1930, respectively, and the application of yM. M. Goldberg, Serial No. 559,720, filed August 27, 1931, which issued October 10, 1939, as Patent No. 2,175,346, and made for a discl-osure of vthose features of the machine Which are not specically described herein. f

In previous machines of this type the printing Was accomplished through the sharp impact of printing hammers against type carrying elements. In vthe present invention the percussion type of printing has been eliminated and in lieu thereof a novel type of impression mechanism is used. .Said novel impression mechanism is practically noiseless and includes means which is first automatically adjusted during each operation to which reference is hereby' A further object is the provision of printing mechanism which during its operation Will producelesswear on the ink ribbon and the parts comprising said printing mechanism. y

A still further vobject is' to provide printing mechanism which during` its operation will minimize the shocks and jars to its coordinate parts. y With these and incidental objects in View, the invention includes certain novel features of construction andcombinations of parts, the essential elements of which` arer set forth in appended claims, and la preferred form or embodiment of which ishereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany andform a part of this'speciflcation.

Ofsaid drawings: y

j Fig.l .1 is a side yelevation of the automatic means. for adjusting the impression means With relation to the type elements, as governed by the thickness of the record material to be printed on.

` anda pass book, respectively, representing record With relation to the type elements, such adjustment. beingxgoverned by the thickness of the record material to be printed on. The impression means is then given a rolling movement, instead of the sharp impact movement above referred to, across the type elements to make the proper imprint on the record material. With such -ar. rangement, less Wear is produced on the ink ribboni and the parts comprising the printing mechanism. i f It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide automatic means for vertically adjusting the impression means with relation to the type elements before printing, such adjustment being controlled by the thickness of the recordmate` rial to be printed-on.

, i jAnother object of the invention is the provision of means for selectively controlling the vertical adjustment of the impression means so that impressions are taken from only certain of said type elements.

Anothery object of the invention is the provision of means for imparting a rolling motion toi the impression means to take impressions fromthe type elements. 1 Another object is to provide a novel `printing mechanism which Vvvill vfunction With a yminimum amount of'noise.`V` .Y A 'vAn additional object-is to'providei-means 'for taking uniform'impressions from thetype elements on record materials of Adifferent 'thickmesses.

pression means in the act of taking an.

materials `of diierent thickness, which may lbe used in the present machine. c Fig-4 is a detail of a part of the impression operating means and shows ,a portion of the disabling means therefor. f

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the means for adjusting ,the rimpression means-with relation to .the type elements, and a portionof. the means for selectively :controlling whichvof said impression-means Will be adjusted thereby. .I

Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the means for selectively controlling the vertical adjustment of the. various impression means, together with the means for imparting a rolling motion to the impression means.

Fig. 7 is a front sectional vieW of the impression means.

Fig. .8 shows a detail frontvew of the imimpression from the type-elements. Fig. 9 is a front View. of one of the impression means'vshown in cockedv position, preparatory to takingan impression from lthe type elements.

v. Fig. 10V is afront sectional View of the ltype elementswand the impression yVmeans, together with v`aportion of 'the xmeans for actuating said impression means. f

Fig. 11 is a detail side view of the type elements, the impression-means, and the means vfor adjusting the latter with relation to said elements. f Y

igs.2 and 3l are facsimiles of an account cardL Fig. 12 is a top plan View of a portion of the means for actuating the impression means to take impressions from the type elements.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional View showing the mounting for the impression means lifting plate.

General description The present machine includes a suitable frame, within which the various instrumentalities thereof are arranged. Inasmuch as the invention relates strictly to the printing mechanism, only such mechanism is shown and described herein.

Brieiiy, the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated makes use of an adjusting member which, after record material'is inserted into the machine, is pressed against the under side of said material to perform the function of a gauge for determining the proper adjustment of impression means with relation to type elements to produce a uniform impression therefrom. If the machine is operated with no record material therein, such' adju-sting member will 4cause the impression means to be maintained in a position out of cooperative relation with the type elements, to prevent any unnecessary impression from being made therefrom.

Means is also provided for selectively controlling the adjustment of the impression means to take impressions from only certain of such type elements. v

After the impression means has been properly adjusted, as above described, means is provided for imparting rolling motion to said impression means to take a uniform impression from the type elements on the inserted record material, irrespective of the thickness of said material, without jar or shock to the coordinate parts of the printing mechanism. With such an arrangement the noise generally produced by such mechanism is greatly reduced.

Detailed description For the purpose of columnar printing, the present machine is provided with a plurality. of groups of type elements or type wheels 30 (Fig. each group being used to print data in a different column on an inserted record material. The mechanism for adjusting the type wheels to print different data is fullydisclosed in the Shipley patents hereinbefore referred to.

Disposed directly beneath each of the groups of' type wheels 3|)V is an impression member 3|, which is adapted to coact with its vrespective group of type wheels to effect a printing operation. Any desired number of groups of type wheels 38 can be provided, and these type wheels are adapted to be set by suitable mechanism so they will impart various kinds of information.

suitably mounted in the machine and disposed between the type wheels 30 and impression members 3| is a printing table 32 (Figs. 1 and 5) for supporting manually insertable record material such as a card 33 (Fig. 2) and a book 34 (Fig. 3) on which printing is to be performed. The table 32 is provided with an opening 35 (Fig. 5) through which the impression members 3| operate to take impressions from the type wheels 30. A pair of guide members 36 and 31, secured to the table 32, is provided for properly guiding and locating the card 33 and book 34 with relation to the type wheels 30. A laterally extending foot 38, formed integral with a stationary bracket 39 cooperates with adjusting means, to be later described, to properly adjust the impression members 3| with relation to the type Wheels 3|).

Disposed between the type wheels 30 and the impression members V3| is an inking ribbon 40 for rendering legible, on the inserted record material, the impressions taken from the type wheels 30. The inking ribbon and the mechanism for actuating the same are old and well known in the art, as shown in the Shipley patents hereinbefore referred to, and therefore are not fully shown or described herein.

Means for` adjusting impression means with relation to type elements In machines of the type herein illustrated,

. record materials of varying thicknesses, as shown,

for example, by the account card 33 (Fig. 2) and the pass book 34 (Fig. 3), are manually inserted Yinto the printing mechanism thereof for the purpose of printing identical data on both kinds of record material .during a single operation of the machine. For accomplishing the objects of this invention, means is provided for adjusting the impression members 3| relative to the type wheels 30 during each operation of the machine in accordance with the thickness of the inserted record material.

Such means will now be described.

Associated with each of the impression members 3| is an individual adjusting plate 42 (Figs. 1, 5 and '7) for controlling the vertical adjustment of said members with relation to their respective groups of type wheels 30, such adjustment being governed by the thickness ofthe record material which has been inserted into the printing position between the impression members and the type wheels. Each of the plates 42 is secured at its lower end to one of a series of bars 43, the upper ends of said plates being located directly beneath the foot 38 on the bracket 39.

Each impression member 3| is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a stud 45 carried by the bifurcated upper portion of a companion member 46. The member 46 is adapted, by means to be hereinafter described, to be rocked to and fro on a block 41 secured to the bar 43.

Associated with each impression member 3| is an individual guide plate 48 (Figs. 9 and 10), for guiding said impression member during the rolling movement which the latter receives When taking an impression from its associated group of type wheels 39, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Such guide plate 48 is securely mounted at its lower end in its associated bar 43. The guide plate 4B and adjusting plate 42 associated with each impression member 3| are rigidly connected together near their upper ends by a stud 49. The stud 49 extends through a slot 50 (Fig. 7), formed in a cross frame 52 secured to the usual base 5|. A large headed screw 53 tapped into the stud 49 acts as a lateral guide for the plates 42 and 48. The head of the screw 53 rides in a slot 54 of a lifter plate 55 and normally bears against the upper wall of said slot 54 to maintain the impression members 3| out of cooperative relation with the type wheels 3|). The lifter plate 55 is guided in its vertical movement by studs 56 (Figs. 7 and 13), only one of which is shown, which ride in shouldered slots 51 in the frame 52.

Each bar 43 is connected by a spring 58 to a. flange 59 formed on the upper end of the plate 55. From the foregoing it will be seen that each of the bars 43 supports as a single unit an impression member 3I, its associate adjusting plate 42 and block 41.

During each operation of the machine, the

lifter ulnte.v 55. i.' .given .e .f tertieel movement.; Jovi ineens. to-1 be presently., desselbenthis. ooourstne flipper. wells. .of the .slots 5.4 .arernoveol springs 1.fili toinovo the. liensv 4 3! together .Wtlil the'.

nnbression rnernbe1s -3,l, adjusting. plates 42. and the; blocks 41,l earned thereby. upwardly until. ainfested br the.. adjusting plate .4 2 vo onteotins and pressing against. the underside of.. th,e inf'. sertedreeord. nieterialynien held rinby the ioot,y of.; the bracket 39, The adjusting plates 4 2ftlnisrproperly position tbeimpression inein-A bers @il ith relation. toA the type. Wheelsv 3.0, @of nominato, the. thickness of the inserted rebord materiel, f preonretorr .t taking impression fnoinssio :typen/heels thereby alwevsinsurlne ayunifoiin impression. irrespective of. the thick? ness or tbereeord materiel von. wniontne. print'- ing Iis yto loe Derforriied.. y.

'Ihe means for impartingvertical movement to the. -litennlete 5.5,. above deserbeol, inoludese. wide camf3 (Fig. *5), secured on aprinter drive; shaft EBQsuitabl'y jo,- naled in the frames ofV the machine. Thefshaft (i4-receives one com plete counter-clockwise rotation' during each operation of the machine; and` may be drivenby any suitable means, such, for example, as, that disclosedinthe aioresaid Shipleypatents. The c am 63 has formed on theperipheryl thereof two lobes..65 and 66, which coactwith one arm of abell Crank` 61, andwitn one arm of a bell crank 68 tobe later. described in detail.. Both bell cranks arejreely mounted on a rod 69. The bell crank-6,1 effects Aa vertical movement of the lifter platev 5 5 .twice duringfeachoperation of the machine. The otherarm of the bell crank 6 1 carries a, stud 10 hich extends through an irregularly shaped. aperture] l formed .in the lefthand endv or al link 1 2. The stud 110 normally occupiesy the narrow vupper portion of .said apartine 1i- ,A spring 1 3, secured ytotlne stud 10 and, .to .the freinexoi the maohine, normally maintainsthe .upper arm ofthe bell crank 61 in cooperative relationwithv the periphery of thearm 14 secured to a shaft 15y jour-l plate 55 upwardly.

naled atiits end in the: frame 5 2. Also secured tn thefshat 15 isapair of .arms, 16 carrying studs 1 1 which extend through apertures 18 inv angesiormed atfboth ends of the lifter.

boeket wig". 3),

thefbeore4 mentioned Shipley Patent 1,761,542, forms no pertinent part 4of the pres-v snsssceu ent invention, itis not shown or For the purpose of adjusting described herein. the impression mer'nb'ersy .3|, ..with relation t9l the vtype wheels on each of ythe inserted record vbefore printing 66 are provided on materials, the lobes 65 and thefcam 63.

pass book '34' betweenthe type wheels 30 and.y impression members 3|,

the machina-)the cam 63 .is rotated countereioekvilse; sensing@ tnelobet' toi roes the .ben

Iit is common practice and upon operation or ferent kinds oflrecord material, such tor examfor. the purpose. oiseparately ple, as the account card 33 (Fig. 2) and the passv i70 After ifsertion of the acount card 33 and sideofa flangel 19 `on the bell crank 61 rocksl said bell crank 61 in a clockwise direction. The bell crank 61, through the the upper small portion of the aperture 1|,.in thelink 1,2, rocks the armv 14, shaft 15, and arms 16 counter-clockwise, tov move the llifter The beu crank s1 has a toe al which rides on the cam 63 and lobe 65 and when the lobe 65 clears the toe 8| the arm thereof into contact with the periphery of the cam 63, and thereby return the lifter plate 55 and the adjusting plates 4Z downwardly to theirdnormal positions. The lobe 65 passes the end of the bell crank 68 before said lobe releases the bell crank 61 for a purpose to be later described.

The second lobe 66 of the cam the' lobe 65 operated them to cause adjusting plates 42 to be elevated to adjust the impression members 3| preparatory to printing on the other one of, said inserted record materials, namely the accounty book 34.

If it should be desired vto use the present inn. ventionwithout the means, comprising the plates- 42, bracket 39 and foot 38, for controlling the adjustment of the impression members 3| relatively to the type wheels 30 according to the such. means may be omitted without aiecting the rethickness of theinserted record material,

maining functions vof the invention.

Impression member actuating means The means for actuating the impression members 3| to take impressions from, 30 includes a shiftable actuating plate 90 (Figs. l, and .7 to l2), formed integral with a ,frame 92 secured to they base 5I. The plate 90 is provided with a series of vertical slots 93 through which extend rthe studs 45, which form the toggle connection between the impression members 3| and'their associated companion members 46', -Theplate 90 is formed with a downwardly projecting extens 94 (Fig. 10), which terminates in anlateral A foot 96 on the ange sion extending ange 95. 95 is normally held lagainst a stop stud ,91 '7, 10 and 12). in a frame 98 secured to the base 5|, by means to be later described, thus maintaining the impression actuating plate in its normal position. Each of ythe guide platesv48 has formed thereon a pair of oppositely faced V-shaped slots |06 and |01, through which; extends pins |08 and |09 carried by each impression member 3|.vand its associated companion member 46, respectively. j

Ihe plate 90 is first shifted to the f left, by means to be presently described, whereby the slots 9 3 coacting withv the studs 45 move the impression members 3| to cocked position, as shown stud 10, coacting with` Such upward movement .of` the plate 55, through the springs 58, impartsa said inserted record spring 13 vrocks s'aid bell 'crank 61 counter-clockwise to bring the upper' 63 operates thebell cranks 61 and .68 in the same manner asv with relation to the type wheels 30,

the type wheels slidably lmounted on rails 9|,

(Figs,

relation to the type wheels 30, in accordance` As previously mentioned, the cam 63 herein before described, also coacts with a second bell crank 68 (Figs. 4, 5 and f6) freely mounted on the rod 69, to cause the plate 90-to be shifted in the manner above described. The lobes 65 and 66 on the -cam 63 coact with the upper arm of the bell crank 68 to rock it clockwise. `The lower arm of the bell crank 68 carries a stud (Fig. 4) which extends through the upper narrow part of an aperture ||I, in a link II2 pivoted on a stud H3 on one arm of a lever ||4 pivoted on a stud I5 mounted in the base 5|.

A tension spring I I6 constantly tends to rock thel lever I4 in a lclockwise direction. The right-V hand arm of the lever ||4 extends into a notch ||'Il (Figs. 7, 10 and 12) in the flange 95 of the actuating plate 90.

When the bell crank 68 is rocked clockwise the stud I |0 moves the link I I2 to the left, thereby rocking the lever I I4 counter-clockwise against the tension of the spring I I6 to shift the plate 90 to theleft (Fig. 10), and in so doing cocks the impression members 3|, preparatory to taking an impression from the type wheels 30. When the lobe 65 clears the bell crank 68 the spring ||6 rocks said bell crank 68 counterclockwise whereupon the lever |I4 moves the plate 90 to its normal position. During such return movement of the plate 90 to its normal position, a rolling movement is thereby imparted to the impression members 3| to take an impression from the type Wheels 30. Similarly, when the lobe 66 coacts with the bell crank 68, the impression members 3| will be caused to take a second impression from the type wheels 30, in the manner just above described.

While the operations of the bell cranks 61 and 68 and their associated parts have been separate- 1y described to show how impressions are made from the type wheels 30 upon the card 33 and book 34 of Figs. 2 and 3 it is thought that it might be well to set forth an operation of both of these mechanisms to give a clearer understanding of their timing.

While the bell crank 68 (Figs. 4 and 5) is being rocked clockwise by the lobe 65 of the cam 63 to operate the impression actuating plate 90 to cock the impression members 3|, in other words to move them from the position shown in Fig. to that shown in Fig. 9, this bell crank 68 by its contact with the underside of a flange I9 of the previously described bell crank 61 rocks said bell crank 6'I clockwise so that the lifter plate 55 can be raising the impression members 3| into the proper position for them to be actuated to take an impression from the type wheels during the time the :actuating plate 90 is cooking impression members 3|.

NOW it is necessary to maintain the lifter plate 55 in its raised position during the time the impression members 3| are rolled over the type 30 to takean impression therefrom. Therefore the bell crank 6'I is provided with a flange 8| which rides on the cam 63 and its lobe 65 a longer period of time than does the end of the bell crank 68. The result of this construction is that the bell crank 68 'is released by the camY lobe 65 before the bell crank 6'I is released therefrom to allow the spring IIB to move the actuating plate to the right to its normal positionv v shown inv Fig. 10 thus causing the impression members 3| to roll-over the type wheels 30 to take an impression therefrom while the lifter plate 55 maintains the impression members in their upper or impression taking positions.

Y Immediately after this impression the lobe 65 passes the flange 8| of the bell crank 6'I Whereupon the spring 'I3 rocks the shaft 15 clockwise to lower the lifter plate 55 and consequently the impression members 3| to their normal positions.

l After this the-card 33 (Fig-2) which has been printed V`uponA under action of the lobe 65 is ejected from the machine and the lobe 66 then functions to rock the bell crank 68 and through it the bell crank 6I to take a second impression, this' time upon'the account book 34 (Fig. 3) in the same manner as above described for the vimpression which was made upon the card 33. Means jor (selectively controlling operation of adjusting means MeansV is provided for selectively controlling the actuation of the different ladjusting plates 42, so that impressions `are taken from only certain of said groups of type wheels 30. Associated with the right-hand end of each of the bars 43 is one of a series of bell cranks |25 (Figs. 5 and 6) freely mounted on a rod |26 suitably mounted in the machine. Formed in the right-hand arm of each of the bell crank |25 isa slot |2'I, through which extends a stud |28, carriedby-one end of a lever |29 pivotally mounted on a shaft |30 suitably mounted in the machine. The right-hand arm of the lever A|29 carries two studs I3| and |32 which are adapted to coact with discs |33 and |34 fast on shafts |35 and |36, respectively. A spring |31 constantly maintains the studs I3| and |32 in cooperative relation with the periphery of the discs-|33 and-|34, respectively. 4The studs I3I and 32 are adapted to coact with recesses |38 and |39 in the discs' |33 and |34. When this occurs, the levers |29 are rockedclockwise by 'the spring |31, thus causing the bell cranks |25 to be rocked counter-clockwise to remove the lower arms thereof from the path of-movement of the bars 43. This permits the bars 43, together with the adjusting plates 42 and impression members 3| carried thereon, to be moved upwardly by the lifter plate 55 to properly position the impression members 3| relative to the type wheels 30 for taking an impression thererom.

The -lower arm of each of the bell cranks |25 normally overlies the right-hand end of its associated bar 4 3 and thereby holds said bar, together with the adjusting plate 42 and impression member 3| carried thereon, against vertical movement by the lifter plate 55, thus maintainmg those impression members 3|, not selected forI operation by the recesses |38 and |39, out of cooperative relation with a particular group of type wheels 30. Consequently, when all of the impression members 3I-are given a rolling movement by means of the shifting plate 90, only those impression members 3|, which were moved into cooperative relation with their respective groups of type wheels 30, under control of the discs |33 lnd |34, will function to take impressions there- Secured to the'shaft |30 (Figs. 5 and 6) are `of their springs |31 so that when .select-,their associated bars 43 and impression .stores the levers y|29 and bell cranks |25 to their ynormal positions.

record material therein. VThis means consists of mechanism which is old and well known `in the Y ,Fastentire shaft t4 (rig. 1) is a @am 15u, which "isa bell crank |51, the lower arm of which car- |53 toward the right, thus tending to move the "with the roller |52. However, upon operation of lthe machine, the node |5| is moved away from the roller |52, thereby permitting the vpitman l53 vto move toward the right under thefinfluence 5,?5

, and 68 .are actuated by the 'cam 63, th'eyiwillhave assegno ing on the levers |29. After the discsv |33 and Pars and .their assciatsd impression mech@- nisms, theshaft |30 is rocked clockwise to raise ithebail |4| to free the levers |29 to the action v5 y notches |38 and |39 are opposite the studs |3| and |32 said lever |29 may be rocked as above described'to mechanism for operation.

10 After the impressions are made on the card 33 and bookr 34, the shaft |30 is returned counterf clockwise to normal, whereupon the bail 4| rel5 The discs I 33 and I34are differentially settable by means under control of a Abank of transaction keys, as" disclosedin the previously mentioned l coidberg patent .i Means for preventing actuation of adiustngifgo means and impression means when machine is operated with no record material therein lyxleans Vis provided for preventing actuation of the adjusting vplates 42 and the impression mem-.25

bers 3| when the machine is operated vvith'no art as disclosed in the before mentioned kShipley pa and thereioreiwill beV only briefly de,-0 scribed herein s o as to give an understanding of its novel relation with the printing mechanisms a rnode |5| vnormally engaging a roller |52,

' barried'byja pitman |53. At itsA opposite end the5 A'p itman r|53 is pivoteol to an arm `|54 (Figs. 1 and i 5) fast on a shaft |55, supported by the printer frames. Loosely mounted'on a stud |56 (Fig. 1)

ries a vstud |58, which extends through an aper, i0

't'ue'fcrmed in the pitman |53. Formed on the upper arm oi the bell crank |51 is a feeler finger |59 which is movable upwardly through an aperture formed in the table 32 to ascertain the jpresence of record material between the type- 45 `wheels 30 and the impression members 3|.

`spring |60, constantly tends to move the pitman bell crank |51 counter-clockwise.l

I'he p itman |54 is normally held in its lefto hand position by means of the node |5| coacting ofthe spring |50. Such movement of the pit- 5 3 causes the b'ell'craitikV `|51 to be rocked eounter-,clpckwse to move the feeler finger |59 upwardly. If ythere is no record material in the machina the ieeler finger |59 will continue itsflgo upward movement until thepitman |53 has been .im edtovvard the right to its full extent. When no effect on the links -12 and I2, thereby renden" ling ineffective the lifter' palate 55 and the 'actuating plate so. cbnseguenti'y, me adjusting, plate fand the imprssion members .3i will remain in their norma-lv ineffective positions during such ,-715

includes'a lever ,|66 (Figs. 1 and 6) pivoted :of the apertures 1| 4and V| v links 12 and the'links 12 `printing on the inserted A,I nounted to' shift back and forthon a stud operation of .the machine and there Will be no impressions .made from the typewheels 30.

kv"Ihe lin eans by which the pitman |53 changes the-positions'of the studs 1 0 and ||0 in the apertures 1 I and respectively, as above described, on a stud |01-suitably mounted in the machine. .The lever L66 carries a pin |58, which extends through an aperture in the pitman |53, and is bifurcated engage a pin |69 carried by l an arm |10 secured .to a vshaft |1| mounted in the printer frames. Also secured on the shaft |1| (Figs. 5 and (i) is vanarm |12 (Fig. 4) carrying a pin |13 Vl'icli projects from both sides of said arm |12 and passes through angular shaped slots |14 and |15. in arms l and l" fernen integral with the .lists l2. and H2, .respectively- V It will thus be seen from the foregoing that, when the pitman |53 is moved toward the right its full extent, the lever |55 is rocked countercloc wise and, through the arm |10, rotates the shaft |f|| and arm |12, clockwise causing the n studf`|13 to cam'the links 12 and ||2 upwardly. .There is sufficient clearance under the head of the stud ||3 (Fig.4 4) for sauchmovement of the 'linkl IN2; Such upward movement of the links 12 and |2 moves the studs 1,0 and ||0 out of the l upper narrow portions of the apertures 1| land I'|'|, respectively, aridi-into the lower wider` portions thereof. Thus when the bellcranks'l and 68 are actuated by the cam 63, the studs 10 and ||0 thereon will move idly in the wider portions y without moving the I I2. Therefore, there .will be no raising of the impression members 3| andno rocking thereof. Near the end of koperation of the machine, the

will again coactwith the roller |52 to return VVthe pitman toward the left to its normal position. Duringsuch return movement the-pitman |53 will, through the lever |66 and arm |10,

"voti te .he shaft' |51| vand arm |12 in a counterclockwise direction, and the stud |13 will cam and I I2y downwardly, thereby causing at ands ym and. 1 .u @f1 the bell cranks and .58, respectively, to again engage the upper narrow yportion of the apertures 1| and formed in said links 1.2 and H2.- f l .On the other hand, when the machine is operated with record .material therein, the upward movement of the feeler finger |59 is arrested when the latter comes into contact with the under side of the inserted record material, thereby preventing the feeler-finger |59 from moving suiciently upward to disable the adjusting means and actuating meansfor the impression members 3|, as previously described.

Y 'v Due to the fact that `the node I 5I (Fig. =1) does notreturn .the pitman |53 and feeler lever- |51 to theirnormal positions until near the end of the operation, it is necessary, when record material is present to receive printing, to rock the lever |51'counter-clockwise to `remove the finger |59 from its Contactv with the under side of the record material to permit .proper printing, feeding and .ejectingvof the record material.

means includes a yslide of a lpawl |85 pivoted on an arm |86 fast to a shaft |81. This pawl cannot rock clockwise due to a pin |88 carried thereby engaging a shoulder on the arm |86. The pawl |85 is free, however,

to rook counter-clockwise against the tension of a spring |89 stretched between the pawl |85 and the arm |86. The shaft |81 is rocked counterclockwise shortly after the beginning of the machine operation by means shown and described in the aforesaid Shipley Patent No. 1,747,397, and

if the shaft |55 is rotated only a short distance due to the engagement of the finger |59 Awith the inserted record material, the pawl |85 contacts the pin |84 and rocks the parts back to their normal positions, Awhere they are held until near the end of the operation, when the node on the cam |50 contacts the roller |52 and retains the parts in their normal positions.

If no record material has been inserted into the machine, the shaft |55 and arm |54 are Operation A brief summary of the operation of the machine will noW be given, for a better understanding of the invention. The operator inserts into the machine an account card 33 and a pass book 34 on both of which it is desired to print identical data during a single operation of the machine. Such data is then set up on keys which control the adjustment of the various groups of type wheels for printing` the desired data. For the purpose of printing in a particular one of a plurality of columns on said inserted record material, the proper transaction key is depressed for selectively controlling the operation of the adjusting means and impression member associated with the proper groupof type Wheels for printing in the desired column.

Upon releasing the machine for operation, the feeler linger |59 moves upwardly to control the operation of the adjusting means 42 and the impression members 3|, associated with that group of type wheels 30 from which an impression is -to be taken. The adjusting means 42 is then moved upwardly to coact with the inserted recordmaterial to properly adjust the impression members 3| according to the thickness of said record-material, preparatory to taking an impression from the type wheels. Simultaneously with the vertical adjustment of the adjusting V means the impression members 3| are moved to cocked position and upon return of the adjusting ,means to normal position, the impression members are given a rolling movement to take impressions from the type wheels.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fuliill the objects primarily stated, it is, to be understood that it is not intended to conne the invention tothe one form or embodiment herein disclosed, foryit is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

'What is claimed is:

l. In a machine adapted to print on inserted'75 Vrecord materials of different thicknesses; type carriers for printing on said materials; an impression member for taking impressions from said type carriers; a device moved into engage- Vment with the record materials for automatically adjusting said member relatively to the type kcarriers according to the thickness of the inserted record materials; means for moving said device; and means for preventing the moving means from moving said device to adjust said impression member when the machine is operated withoutsaid record materials.

2. In a machine adapted to print on inserted record materials of different thicknesses, the combination of type carriers for printing on said materials; an adjustable impression member for taking impressions from said type carriers; a control element for controlling the adjustment of said member; a bar carrying both the control element and the impression member; means for imparting vertical movement to said bar to cause said control element to coact with the inserted record material to automatically adjust the impression member relatively to the type carriers according to the thickness of said record material; and means for` moving the adjusted impression member, while the impression member ,remains in adjusted position relative to said type carriers, to engage the impression member with the type carriers to cause uniform impressions to be made on said record material regardless of the thickness of the record material.

3. In a machine capable of printing on inserted record materials of varying thicknesses, type carriers for printing on said materials; an adjustable impression member normally out of cooperative relation with said type carriers but adjustableto positions where it can coact with the type carriers for taking impressions from saidntype carriers; a control element for controlling the adjustment of said impression member; Van adjustment control member; and a iioatin g support for said element and said impression `member for lcausing the element to coact with theinserted record material and therethrough Awith said adjustment control member to automatically adjust the impression member relatively to the type carriers according to the thickness of said record material.

4. In a machine adapted to print on record materials of varying thicknesses, the combination of type carriers for printing on said materials; an impression member cooperable with said type carriers in successive order to take impressions therefrom; means including an element cooperable with the record material during a printing operation for automatically adjusting said member relative to said type carriers according to the thickness of the record material to cause uniform impressions to be taken by said member from the type carriers; and means for thereafter moving the adjusted impression member into engagement with the type carriers in successive order to take impressions therefrom.

5. In a printing device, the combination of a plurality of type carriers; an impression member; a companion member; means joining together the impression member and the companion member to form a toggle arrangement; means for guiding the free ends of the members; and means for operating said toggle to cause the impression member to coact with the type carriers in successive order to take impressions therefrom.

6. In a printing device, the combination of a plurality of type carriers; an impression member; a companion member; a stud serving to join together said members to form a toggle arrangement; means for moving the impression member into coactive relation with the type carriers; and means coacting with said stud for actuating said toggle when the impression member is in coactive relation with the type carriers to cause the impression member to take` impressions from the type carriers.

'7. In a printing device, the combination of a plurality of type carriers; an arcuate impression member; an arcuate companion member; a stud serving to join together said members to form a toggle arrangement; a block; resiliently operated means carrying said block and maintaining the impression member in coactive relation with the type carriers; and means for actuating said toggle to cause the companion member to coact With sai-d block and to cause the impression member to coact with the type carriers to take an impression therefrom.

8. In a printing device, the combination of a plurality of type carriers; an arcuate impression member having a projection; an arcuate companion member having a projection; a stud serving to join together said members to form a toggle arrangement; means to shift the stud to actuate said toggle to cause the impression member to coact with the type carriers in successive order to take impressions therefrom; and a plate provided With slots through which project the projections carried by said members for properly guiding the movement of the impression member when taking impressions from the type carriers.

9. In a machine adapted to print on record materials of different thicknesses; a plurality of groups of type carriers for printing on said materials; a plurality of impression members one associated With each group of type carriers for taking impressions from said type carriers; separate adjusting means associated With each of said impression members and each adjusting means including an element movable into engagement with the record material to govern the position of said impression members relatively to the different groups of type carriers according to the thickness of the record material to rcause uniform impressions to be taken from said type carriers; and settable means for selectively controlling the operation of the different adjusting means to cause impressions to be taken from only certain of said groups of type carriers.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of groups of type carriers; a plurality of impression members one for each of said groups of type carriers; a support for each of said impression members; means common to all of said members to normally retain them out of cooperation With said type carriers; means to release said retaining means; means adapted to move each member in one direction into cooperative relation with ts respective group of type carriers; and means common to all of said members to move the same in another direction to effect printing from all groups of type carriers.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of groups of type carriers; an impression member for each group; means adapted to move each member in one direction into cooperative relation with its respective group of type carriers; means common to all members to move the latter in another direction to effect printing from their associated groups of type carriers; and means for determining which of said members shall be moved in said one direction.

12. In a machine adapted to print on record materials of diierent thicknesses, type carriers for printing on said materials; an impression member for taking impressions from said type carriers; means for automatically adjusting said member to various positions relative to said type carriers according to the thickness of the record material and including a xed control block and an element movable into engagement With the record material to move the material into engagement with theblock to control the adjustment of the member relative to the type carriers so that uniform impressions may be taken from said type carriers upon subsequent operation of the member; and means to operate the adjusting means during a printing operation.

13. In a machine capable of printing on record materials of varying thicknesses, type carriers for printing on said materials; impression means adjustable rrelatively to said rtype carriers; a gauging member; control means normally out of engagement with the record material but coacting with the record material and therethrough with the gauging member during printing operations for controlling the adjustmentof the impression means relatively to the type carriers in accordance with the thickness of the record material; and means operable in printing operations to move the control means into coacting relation with the record material.

14. In a machine adapted to` print on record materials of different thicknesses, type carriers for printing on said materials; an adjustable impression member settable to a plurality of positions relative to said typecarriers for takingr impressions from said type carriers; a control element for controlling the positioning of said member during a printing operation; means common to both said element and said member and operable during said printing operation to cause the element to coact With the inserted record material to automatically position the impression member relatively to the typezcarriers according to the thickness of said record material; and mechanism for thereafter operating the impression member While it is held in adjusted position by the means and the control element, for taking an impression from the type carriers.

15. In a machine capable of printing on record materials of varying thicknesses, the :combination of type carriers; impression means cooperable with said type `carriers to print data on said material; a floating supporting element for adjustably supporting the impression means relatively to said type carriers; means for positioning the supporting element to move the impression means into printing relation with the type carriers; control means moved into engagement with the record material by the supporting means .during a printing operation for controlling theA positioning of the floating supporting element; and means for moving the impression means into engagement With the type carriers to take impressions therefrom While the supporting means maintains the impression means in the position to which it Was set under control of the control means.

IRVIN L. ELDER. 

